By Bader Abbas Alhelaibi
June 26, 2024, marks the Golden Jubilee of Bahrain-Brazil relations, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. This significant milestone isn’t just temporal but a testament to the long-lasting friendship, multi-pronged cooperation, and shared aspirations that characterize our bilateral relationship. As Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Federative Republic of Brazil, I have the honor to reflect upon the rich history of our bilateral relations and the promising prospects ahead of us.
Our relationship has always been characterized by robust and resilient cooperation and coordination, exemplified by high-level visits and continued dialogue. The landmark visit of then-president Jair Bolsonaro to Bahrain in November 2021 marked a crucial milestone as the first visit of a Brazilian head of state to our kingdom. The visit established a new precedent for Bahrain-Brazil involvement, fostering our growing sociocultural, political, commercial and investment ties.
The opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Bahrain in 2021, as well as the Embassy of Bahrain in Brasília in 2018, also furthered our diplomatic talks, making our interactions more fast-paced and thorough. A remarkable example of the flexibility our diplomacy was the online meeting between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and then-president Jair Bolsonaro in March 2021, a meeting that stressed our capacity to maintain strong diplomatic relations even amid global challenges.
Over their online talks, they expressed their commitment to improving trade and investment relations, recognizing Brazil’s standing as a pivotal global economy and Bahrain’s strategic shift towards economic diversification. Talks reinforced our mutual resolve to support joint projects, further integrating our economies and driving innovation.
Bahrain-Brazil relations: Partnership
Testament to our partnership are the numerous memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed between our nations, reflecting the range and depth of our cooperation. Key texts include the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Central Banks of Brazil and Bahrain that fosters financial stability and collaborative economic policies.
Additionally, the agreements between the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) aim to strengthen corporate ties, thus reinforcing the role of the private sector in our bilateral relationship. Our cooperation also extends to agriculture, with channels of dialogue established between authorities to facilitate access to Brazilian agribusiness goods in Bahrain, as well as defense, with an emphasis on research and development.
Bahrain-Brazil trade saw a remarkable growth, which stresses how complementary our economies are. In 2023, exports from Bahrain to Brazil were estimated at USD 215.03 million, including polyethylene, unwrought aluminum alloys, and other industrial materials. On the other hand, Bahrain’s imports from Brazil, at approximately USD 1.39 billion, consisted mainly of iron ore, cattle, meat products, and a wide range of food items, as well as medical supplies, industrial tools, and vehicles.
This trade relationship is important for both economies, bringing about job creation, economic stability, and continuous growth. In fact, the steadily increasing trade volume stresses the continuous exploration of trade opportunities, aiming to drive our mutual trade exchange even further.
By celebrating the Golden Jubilee, we are not just commemorating fifty years of diplomatic relations but also acknowledging a dynamic partnership that has flourished amid a constantly changing global landscape. Our unwavering commitment with dialogue and collaboration strengthened our relationship and serves as an example of international friendship and cooperation. And by celebrating this significant milestone, we reaffirm our dedication to deepening ties between Bahrain and Brazil and hope for a future laid out upon shared prosperity, innovation, and long-lasting friendship.
*Bader Abbas Alhelaibi is ambassador from Bahrain to Brazil
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda
